Quinta De Chocapalha Winery Guide

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Last updated: April 18, 2024

Winery Overview

One of the best-kept secrets in Portugal today and certainly one of our favorite wineries, Quinta De Chocapalha, has been at the forefront of the Portuguese revolution in winemaking. Modern, fruit-driven wine styles are the order of the day here, all made in probably the least famous wine region in Portugal. Long associated with high-volume production and indifferent wine, Quinta De Chocapalha has proven what can be done in the region Estremadura (now renamed Lisboa), an appellation north of that more famous capital city.

Despite its decidedly modern approach to winemaking, Quinta De Chocapalha is undoubtedly not short on history. The property enjoyed a succession of nobility and was passed to the Scottish noble Diogo Duff in the 15th century. Duff was no fool, and he kept the estate in his family for centuries, each generation enjoying the spoils of this grand Quinta. Wine has grown on the property since the 16th century. Then, in the 1980s, Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva fell in love with Chocapalha and decided this was the place to realize their winemaking dream. They have invested heavily in the property and have worked monumentally hard to raise the quality and reputation of their wines.

In 2000, the proud owners were finally satisfied they had achieved that benchmark and started bottling the Quinta de Chocapalha wines. Now, this small, family-run estate produces some of the best wines in Portugal today, with the Cabernet Sauvignon the notable star in the pack. Visitors are never disappointed with the privileged location between the rolling hills of Estremadura and the beautifully renovated Quinta, not to mention some delectable wines.